Game Development
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Mass Effect: Universe Would Involve a Multiverse by Including All Choices From the Originals – Rumor
Details have emerged regarding the canceled Mass Effect sequel, reportedly titled Mass Effect: Universe, which would have incorporated player choices from previous games to create parallel timelines and alternate universes. Former developers discussed the ambitious scope, which included a new customizable protagonist, a galaxy set 600 years after Mass Effect 3 with new factions, and gameplay elements inspired by Hitman and John Wick. The article also touches on the potential for a live-action TV adaptation and the future of the Mass Effect IP.
Silent Hill: Townfall Team Deliberately “Kept in the Dark”About Other Titles
The development team behind Silent Hill: Townfall was kept separate from other Silent Hill projects, including Silent Hill f, Ascension, and the Silent Hill 2 remake. Game director Jonn McKellan stated they learned about these other titles at the same time as the public. Konami adopted a hands-off approach to avoid project overlap, which has been seen as a positive strategy given the franchise's recent resurgence.
Former Mass Effect 5 Art Director Says Cancellation is “Truly Heartbreaking”
Nicolas Bouvier, former art director for a canceled Mass Effect project at BioWare, expressed his heartbreak over the studio's closure and the project's cancellation. He described working with a talented and tightly-knit team, lamenting that their work would never be seen by the public. Other writers and former executives also commented on the closure and the uncertain future of the Mass Effect franchise and its IP.
On AI in game dev, Final Fantasy and Mana veterans say humans will always need to "turn zero into one," but…
Square Enix veterans Yoshinori Kitase, Hiromichi Tanaka, and Koichi Ishii believe that while AI can streamline game development processes, human creativity will always be essential for initial concept generation. They suggest AI can handle the 'one to a hundred' tasks, freeing up humans to focus on the crucial 'zero to one' stage of innovation, though the article notes AI's role in current industry layoffs.
Here’s Another Mass Effect 5 Leak To Break Your Heart
Composer Austin Wintory has shared nearly 20 minutes of music he created for a potential Mass Effect 5 project, tentatively titled Mass Effect: Universe. Wintory expressed his long-held dream of working on the franchise and shared his experimental score, which was developed in discussions with BioWare and Electronic Arts before the project's apparent cancellation.
Whatever happened to Wild Terra 2, Defiance, and Prosperous Universe?
This article provides an update on the development status of three MMOs: Wild Terra 2, Defiance, and Prosperous Universe. Wild Terra 2 has received several updates including dual wielding and new dungeons, with plans for seasonal servers and a battle pass. Defiance continues to receive regular updates and seasonal events. Prosperous Universe is preparing a major update that will introduce shipping routes and an in-game news tab, alongside efforts to fix long-standing issues.
Mass Effect 5 was Journey composer's "biggest dream project," and he was in "serious discussions" with BioWare to handle the soundtrack – here's 20 minutes of music he composed for the RPG
Legendary composer Austin Wintory, known for his work on Journey, has shared 20 minutes of music he composed as early drafts for the canceled Mass Effect 5. Wintory described working on the game as his "biggest dream project" and had been in serious discussions with BioWare to handle the soundtrack. The music blends synths and orchestral sounds, aiming to build upon the original Mass Effect score.
Auroch Digital lays off a quarter of its staff
Auroch Digital has laid off approximately a quarter of its staff due to challenging market conditions affecting the game development industry. The studio, acquired by Sumo Group in 2021, cited the need to restructure to navigate a turbulent period, expressing pride in recent game releases like Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War. The company is seeking to place its affected staff in new roles within the industry.
"Just because you can order at a restaurant doesn’t mean you’re a chef": Game lawyer says AI-generated code made with confidential details did nothing but waste everybody's time
An IP lawyer specializing in video game contracts highlights the misuse of generative AI in development, citing an instance where a contractor submitted AI-generated code containing confidential information, leading to a failed agreement. The article discusses the legal risks, including copyright infringement and breaches of confidentiality, associated with current AI tools and suggests incorporating anti-AI clauses into contracts.
Steam's AI disclosures are akin to "forcing developers to list their voting history", says man who must hate seeing eggs virtue signal that they're free-range
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Valve's new policy requiring developers to disclose the use of generative AI in their games. Sweeney argued that these disclosures are akin to forcing developers to reveal political affiliations and could be used against them by a 'hate mob.' The article counters that such transparency is necessary for consumers to make informed decisions, comparing it to age ratings and suggesting that businesses should adapt to consumer preferences.
The Witcher "wouldn't have been possible" without BioWare, CD Projekt Red reminds fans as the RPG turns…
CD Projekt Red celebrated the 19th anniversary of the original The Witcher game, acknowledging the crucial support received from BioWare. BioWare provided CD Projekt Red with their Aurora Engine and assistance at E3, which was instrumental in the development of The Witcher. This collaboration highlights the intertwined history of the two studios, with both finding significant success in the RPG genre.
Paris Games Biz showcased a guarded optimism in the face of turmoil, both locally and in the industry at large | Opinion
Despite civil unrest and industry-wide financial turmoil, the Paris Games Biz event showcased a guarded optimism among French game developers and publishers. Many smaller studios credited government funding initiatives with keeping them afloat, while discussions also touched on the potential of existing IP and the evolving role of marketing. Concerns were raised about the generosity of French government support compared to the UK, and the struggles of larger companies like Ubisoft were acknowledged.
220,000-signatory petition to "save Mass Effect" doesn't mention BioWare, suggests giving Mass Effect 5 to somebody else
A Change.org petition with around 220,000 signatories is calling on Electronic Arts to "save Mass Effect" by committing to its continued development or licensing the IP to another studio. The petition notably omits any mention of BioWare, the original developer, which the article criticizes as a strange oversight given recent layoffs. The author expresses skepticism about the petition's corporate-friendly language and its effectiveness in addressing the underlying issues.
Arrowhead Game Studios isn't likely to make Helldivers 3 while Helldivers 2 is popular
Arrowhead Game Studios is unlikely to develop Helldivers 3 while Helldivers 2 remains popular, according to Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt. The studio is focusing its resources on Helldivers 2 content and updates, with a small team prototyping future projects. Pilestedt suggested that if Helldivers 3 is made, it would need to be significantly different to avoid splitting the player base.
Why There Won’t Be A Helldivers 3 Anytime Soon, If Ever
Arrowhead Game Studios' Chief Creative Officer Johan Pilestedt stated that a sequel to the popular Helldivers 2 is unlikely in the near future, as the studio prefers to focus on continuously updating the existing game rather than forcing players to start over. Pilestedt believes the live-service model, when done correctly by valuing the community, is more sustainable than relying on sequels. He also noted that the biggest competitor to a potential Helldivers 3 would be Helldivers 2 itself, suggesting a sequel would need to be significantly different to coexist.
Silent Hill Townfall lead was "kept in the dark" about Silent Hill f and 2 remake because the series producer didn't want to "let projects influence each other"
Jon McKellan, director of Silent Hill: Townfall, revealed that Konami kept his development team largely unaware of other concurrent Silent Hill projects like Silent Hill 2 Remake and Silent Hill f. Series producer Motoi Okamoto aimed to prevent projects from influencing each other, though Konami would intervene if designs became too similar.
Side expands presence in China, opens new studio and acquires art outsourcing provider Roboto Entertainment
Side has expanded its operations in China by opening a new studio in Chengdu and acquiring art outsourcing provider Roboto Entertainment. Andrea Cordella, founder of Roboto Entertainment, has been appointed as Side's global head of art and studio head for the new Chengdu office. This move aims to leverage China's significant presence in the AAA and AA game art outsourcing market.
"It was a pretty harrowing three months" – Undead Labs head Philip Holt on what happened after Xbox cut the studio loose
Undead Labs CEO Philip Holt details the challenging three months following Xbox's divestment of the studio, which led to significant layoffs and a pivot to employee ownership. Despite the turmoil, the studio secured publishing funding for State of Decay 3, which is now employee-owned and aims for a 2027 release, focusing on player entertainment over investor demands.
Mass Effect Petition Hopes to Save Franchise After EA News
Following Electronic Arts' decision to close BioWare and cancel the next Mass Effect game, a fan petition on Change.org has garnered over 200,000 signatures. The petition urges EA to fund the continuation of the Mass Effect franchise or license the IP to another studio, highlighting the series' importance in the sci-fi RPG genre.
Save Mass Effect movement backed by The Expanse RPG devs inspired by BioWare: "The Expanse show was saved by fans…
Following the announcement of BioWare's closure and the cancellation of the next Mass Effect game, a fan campaign to save the franchise has gained significant traction, amassing over 210,000 signatures. Owlcat Games, developers of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, have publicly backed the #SaveMassEffect movement, drawing parallels to how The Expanse TV series was revived by fan support. However, Mass Effect 5's former technical director, Romain Toutain, expressed skepticism about EA's willingness to revive dormant franchises.
